BMW i3: The "Neue Klasse" arrives as an electric sedan from Munich
BMW has unveiled the new i3 – the fully electric mid-size sedan in 3 Series format and the second model of the "Neue Klasse". Unlike the iX3, which is built in Hungary, the i3 rolls off the assembly line at the home plant in Munich, making it a true Made in Germany vehicle.
The new BMW i3 should not be confused with the compact car of the same name produced from 2013 to 2022: it is the fully electric sedan in the format of the 3 Series and, after the iX3, the second model of the "Neue Klasse" generation. Built on a new 800-volt architecture with the sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology, the top-of-the-range i3 50 xDrive delivers around 469 PS, a battery of approximately 108 kWh, and a WLTP range of up to 900 kilometers; charging at up to 400 kW is designed to add enough power for around 400 kilometers in just ten minutes.
Crucial for Made in Germany: While the first Neue Klasse model, the iX3, is being produced at the BMW plant in Debrecen, Hungary, the i3 will be built at BMW's home plant in Munich. Series production is set to begin there in August 2026, with first deliveries planned for autumn 2026. BMW is investing around 650 million euros in the conversion of the plant, which will exclusively manufacture fully electric vehicles from 2027 onwards.
Munich thus becomes the heart of the electric strategy: The Neue Klasse architecture will underpin further all-electric BMWs in the future – including sporty M models, for which BMW has announced a dedicated, particularly high-performance variant of the technology.
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Source: BMW Group